James Merett: Symbolism of obelisk

In 1793, when George Washington sanctioned the laying of the capitol building's cornerstone, he did so wearing a Masonic apron emblazoned with the brotherhood's symbols.

Athena, a Pagan God stands atop the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

As you enter this nation's capitol building, you see the Pagan God Mars enshrined in all his glory.

The Apotheosis of Washing­ton is the very large fresco painting covering the inside of the dome. The fresco depicts George Washington becoming a god surrounded by figures from classical mythology.

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Surrounding Washington, the two goddesses and the 13 maidens, are six scenes lining the perimeter, each representing a national concept allegorically.

The first scene depicts a woman — Freedom, also known as Columbia — fighting for liberty with a raised sword, cape, helmet and shield. The second scene is Minerva, the Roman goddess of crafts and wisdom, who is portrayed with helmet and spear pointing to an electrical generator creating power stored in batteries next to a printing press.

The third scene shows Nep­tune, the Roman sea-god, with trident and crown of seaweed riding in a shell chariot drawn by sea horses.

Venus, goddess of love born from the sea, is depicted helping to lay the transatlantic telegraph cable.

In the fourth scene is Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, with his winged petasos and sandals and a caduceus. He is depicted giving a bag of gold to American Revolutionary War financier Robert Morris. In the fifth scene: Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and the forge, is depicted standing at an anvil with his foot on a cannon next to a pile of cannonballs.

The last scene shows Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, with a wreath of wheat and a cornucopia, symbol of plenty, while sitting on a McCormick mechanical reaper, while the goddess Flora gathers flowers in the foreground.

The Washington Monument is a Pagan Egyptian obelisk. It is based on this ancient Egyptian design that debuted about 4,400 years ago. Its construction took place in two major phases, 1848 to 1856, and 1876 to 1884.

A lack of funds, political turmoil (Know-Nothings, political party) and uncertainty about the survival of the American Union caused the hiatus.

It may be that this opposition was generated by Christian "extremists" who understood the symbolism of the obelisk and the occult character of the secret society, which financed its construction.